Allianz Trade vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance: UK Invoice Finance Comparison 2026
See how Allianz Trade compares to Close Brothers Invoice Finance side by side, then get three tailored quotes to weigh alongside them. Free, no obligation, and nothing to pay if you decide not to proceed.
Start here: what fits your business?
These are different products rather than like-for-like invoice finance rivals (Allianz Trade: trade credit insurance and bad debt protection; Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice finance). UK businesses still weigh them side by side, so the real question is which job you need doing, not which is the better invoice finance line. Allianz Trade typically takes 1 to 3 weeks (policy underwriting) to set up; Close Brothers Invoice Finance advances up to 90%, setup typically in 5 working days. Allianz Trade has no turnover minimum as such; eligibility is set by policy underwriting, Close Brothers Invoice Finance needs £750k minimum turnover. Read the side-by-side below, then jump to the "when X wins" sections.
Side-by-side
Full reviews: Allianz Trade · Close Brothers Invoice Finance
| Compared on | Allianz Trade | Close Brothers Invoice Finance |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Trade credit insurance and bad debt protection | Invoice finance (CID, factoring, ABL) |
| Min turnover | Set by policy underwriting | £750k |
| Advance rate | N/A (insurance, not advance against ledger) | Up to 90% |
| Typical fee | Premium as a percentage of insured turnover | Not published (quoted per facility) |
| Confidential available? | N/A | Yes |
| Factoring available? | N/A | Yes |
| Setup speed | 1 to 3 weeks (policy underwriting) | 5 working days |
Sources for these figures: Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice factoring (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%) · Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice discounting (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%) · Close Brothers Invoice Finance: our fees (all agreements individually priced; no rate published)
When Allianz Trade wins
- One of the world's largest trade credit insurers, with deep debtor risk data.
- Protects against customer insolvency and protracted default.
- Can be added alongside an existing invoice finance facility.
- Strengthens funding terms when a ledger is insured.
Best for
Protecting against customer non-payment, Insuring an existing IF ledger, Exporters managing debtor risk.
Watch outs
- Not invoice finance: it insures debt, it does not advance cash.
- Provides no working capital on its own.
- Premiums and underwriting add cost and lead time.
When Close Brothers Invoice Finance wins
- Published eligibility: £750k minimum turnover and up to 90% advance for both factoring and discounting.
- Merchant banking heritage; FCA regulated under Close Brothers Group plc.
- Strong on confidential invoice discounting (no customer notification).
Best for
£750k+ turnover Ltd companies, Confidential discounting use cases, Established trading businesses wanting a bank-backed lender.
Watch outs
- £750k minimum turnover (published for both factoring and invoice discounting) excludes smaller businesses.
- No published pricing: each agreement is individually priced, so it can only be compared on a quote.
- Setup 5 days, fine but no faster than mid-tier competitors.
FAQ
Allianz Trade or Close Brothers Invoice Finance: which fits your business in 2026?
They do different jobs (see the product types above), so pick by the job you need doing. Allianz Trade is the stronger fit for protecting against customer non-payment; Close Brothers Invoice Finance fits £750k+ turnover Ltd companies better. The "when X wins" sections above break this down by profile, and the commercials are covered in the next question.
How do Allianz Trade and Close Brothers Invoice Finance price their facilities?
Pricing: Allianz Trade, premium as a percentage of insured turnover; Close Brothers Invoice Finance, not published, quoted per facility. The table above sets advance rate, setup speed and minimum turnover side by side.
Can I get a confidential facility with either Allianz Trade or Close Brothers Invoice Finance?
Allianz Trade is not an invoice finance facility, so confidential invoice discounting does not apply. Close Brothers Invoice Finance offers confidential invoice discounting (your customers are not notified).
Where does each one struggle?
Allianz Trade is the wrong fit for businesses that need cash now. Close Brothers Invoice Finance is the wrong fit for sub-£750k turnover. If either describes your business, browse the side-by-side or get 3 free quotes through our quote form.
Can Market Invoice help me choose between Allianz Trade and Close Brothers Invoice Finance?
Yes. marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company 16833937), and is not tied to either provider. Share your turnover, sector and debtor profile and eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes, with no obligation to proceed.
Related
- Full Allianz Trade review
- Full Close Brothers Invoice Finance review
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Ultimate Finance
- Aldermore Invoice Finance vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance vs Novuna Business Finance
- All UK invoice finance comparisons
- Browse every reviewed UK invoice finance provider
- UK invoice finance by region
Sources
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Allianz Trade's own site.
- Rates, advance percentages and product details checked against Close Brothers Invoice Finance's own site.
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice factoring (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%)
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: invoice discounting (minimum turnover £750k a year, up to 90%)
- Close Brothers Invoice Finance: our fees (all agreements individually priced; no rate published)
Get 3 free quotes
Tell us monthly turnover, sector, debtor profile and whether the facility needs to be confidential. eCapital, our introduction partner, handles your enquiry and comes back to you with quotes. Free, and no obligation to proceed.
Get my 3 quotes →Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937), directed by Oliver Mackman, owns and operates Market Invoice. Last updated: .
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Disclosure: marketinvoice.co.uk is an independent invoice finance comparison and introducer service operated by Best Business Loans Ltd (company number 16833937). It is a separate business and is not connected to Kriya, Allica Bank or to any provider named on this page. Our introduction partner pays us a fixed fee for each business we introduce, whether or not a facility follows; this is never added to your costs. Invoice finance for limited companies is not a regulated activity, so this comparison is general information rather than regulated financial advice. Figures are indicative; larger facilities are commonly priced bespoke, so confirm terms directly with the provider before you sign.